An upcoming professional development day at Fort Hays State University will provide training and certification opportunities for area child care personnel from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 26 in the Memorial Union on the FHSU campus.

The training day will extend health and safety training with a focus on child abuse and neglect, pediatric CRP and first aid certification, sudden infant death syndrome, child mental health and nutrition, and home-based child care licensure, regulations and compliance.

"It is very important to have qualified day-care providers who are properly trained and certified in health, safety, and education for young children," said Sara Stroup, instructor of teacher education. "FHSU is excited to provide this opportunity to the valuable individuals who touch the future of tomorrow."

There is no cost to attend the event. Eligible child-care providers who complete six or more hours of training are eligible for a $100 stipend. Registration deadline is June 23.

The stipend is available to registered family child-care providers, Group Day Care Home License holders, licensed child-care providers and child-care centers and preschool facilities with at least one professional staff member in attendance. The stipend provides money to make changes to the environment in their care facilities to provide a safe, healthy and educational settings

The professional development classes are part of the Child Care Professional Development Campaign, organized by the Child Care Provider Health and Safety Fund.

The fund is a collaboration of Child Care Providers Together (an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

The professional development days for child care personnel will provide relevant professional development and training opportunities approved by KDHE for home- and center-based child-care providers in Kansas.

"This training opportunity is a rare offer," said Stroup. "It will build a valuable support system throughout our community of care providers, allowing them the opportunity to create the ultimate learning and care for their children and families."

Similar classes in the professional development campaign are also scheduled in Colby on July 10, registration deadline July 7 and Kansas City, Kan., July 10, registration deadline July 7.

For more information on any of the events or to register, visit the Kansas TRAIN Web site at http://ks.train.org and search for the "Child Care Professional Development Campaign."